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HONOLULU—Playing in front of the third-largest home crowd this season, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (15-25, 6-8 Big West) pulled out the upset of the seventh-ranked UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (30-10, 7-4 Big West). Scoring late and holding on for the shutout behind stellar pitching performances by Tyler Brashears and Quintin Torres-Costa, UH shut out the Gauchos to even the series with the 1-0 victory on Saturday evening at Les Murakami Stadium.

Brashears made it clear he came to deal from the first inning, putting in 8-of-10 pitches for strikes right out of the gate, and allowing just two hits through the first four innings.

Things got tense for Brashears and the Rainbow Warriors in the sixth, as Campbell Wear reached on an error as the leadoff hitter, leading to a bases loaded situation with only a single out away. Third baseman JJ Kitaoka made an outstanding heads up defensive play to compensate for the error, securing the second out on a force at home after the scoop. The 'Bows got out of it completely on a routine grounder to shortstop Jacob Sheldon-Collins.

Feeling the urgency after the close call, the 'Bows responded in the back end of the frame, with second baseman Stephen Ventimilia setting up the play on a single lined to right field, later stealing second. Center Fielder Kaeo Aliviado made the effort count, firing an RBI single through the right side to scratch Ventimilia across for the go-ahead run and snap a 22-at-bat hitting drought for the Ewa Beach senior.

With the lead in hand, Brashears blanked the Gauchos through the seventh and two batters in the eighth before allowing just his third hit, yielding to Torres-Costa for the left-on-left matchup. Torres-Costa closed off the frame inducing a groundout.

In the ninth, the 'Bows took the Gauchos' best shot, with runners aboard via a single and a hit batter, but Torres-Costa fanned one and earned his fourth save as Clay Fisher's line shot was collected in Aliviado's glove in center field, closing the book on the 1-0 win.

UCSB is the highest-ranked opponent the 'Bows have defeated since topping fourth-ranked Cal State Fullerton in 2013.

Brashears (6-4) earned the win after 7.2 innings of work, allowing only three (3) hits and striking out five (5), while only issuing one (1) walk. Torres-Costa (4 SV) went 1.1 innings allowing one (1) hit, while striking out (1).

Justin Jacome (6-2) takes just his second loss of the season, throwing eight (8.0) full innings for UCSB, giving five (5) hits with seven (7) strikeouts and no walks.

At the plate, catcher Chayce Ka'aua was the only multi-hit batter, going 2-for-3, while Aliviado was 1-for-3 with the go-ahead RBI.
The Rainbow Warriors and Gauchos return to Les Murakami Stadium at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday for the series rubber game. The game will be broadcast on the radio on ESPN Honolulu 1420 AM.